The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-11-02
OPPOSED TO FAIR RULES.
shreveport Journal.)

val and endorsement of every demo
crat in Louisiana. Those so-called
democrats who failed to vote the ticket
made up by the last State Nominating
Convention have no more right to par.
ticipate in the primaries than have the
rankest Republicans in Louisiana, and
when such men offer their votes they
should be challenged and RELOCATED
to the ranks of tie Republicans, where
they properly belong. These men
have no moral or political right to au
opinion of their own on this question
and at the same time claim to be dem
ocrats. After participating in the pro-
ceedipgs that led to the organization
OF a nominating convention they are
iuexcusable, on either moral or politi-
cal grounds, in refusing to support the
nominee or nominees of that conven-
tion-it is, subversive Of all party
principle and must ultimately lead to
the disruption of the Democratic party.
It might be excusable in such po-
litical cranks as Hon. B. w. Marston,
of Red River parish, whose example
no sane man would follow, but other
wise the precedent is dangerous one.
The resolution Of Hon. II. W. Og.
den, referred to by the Times Democrat
was that none but known white demo-
Gratis should be permitted to vote at
the primaries, and all who voted for
Blaine or Stevenson should be exclu-
ded. This resolution was bitterly OPP
posed by the reform leaders-such
men as Jeffries, Cunningham, Wick
life aud others-and this opposition
was based upon the fimsy pretext that
should action would be an unfustiia-
bic interference Of the State committee
with the parish committees, Finding
that he had raised hornets nest about
his ears, Mr. Ogden finally withdrew
Lis resolution, which we regret as
every member of the committee should
have been forced to record his vote
either in the negative or affirmative.
Here is the Tiges-Democrat article on
the subject:
The late meeting of the State Cen
trail Committee demonstrated the
strength of Gov. McEnery. 1t was
the field against him and recognizing
his strength the supporters of Nichols
Moncure, JeHries and Cunningham
combined and united, only to find that
the supporters of Gov. McEnery out
numbered the entire combination
Another fact brought out by the
committee was that tie Reformers did
not seek fair or equitable rules, and
did not want to restrict the primaries
to the earnest and tried Democrats.
There could have been no fairer or
more proper provision than that offered
by Mr.. Ogden of Bossier refusing to
recognize as Democrats those who de-
serted the party in the last State and
Presidential elections and yet the Re-
formers cried out against this proposed
rule as though it was an attack on
Democracy. The men who deserted
in the last presidential campaign are
not worthy of any consideration what
ever on the part of the Democracy in
the primaries; they deserted in the de-
cisive battle between the Democrats
and Republicans, and left the party
when their aid was sorely needed
Mr.. Cleveland was elected by the
slimmest of mnjorities; and had as
many men abandoned the Democratic
party elsewhere in proportion as in
Louisiana, the Federal government
would still remain in the hands of the
Republicans. TO welcome these de-
serters back again, to give them all
the privileges and powers of Demo-
crat who has remained true through
good aud evil fortune, is offering
premium to palitical desertion and is
subversive of all party discipline. Yet
this is practically what the Reformers
did when they opposed SO vehemcutly
Mr.. Ogden's proposition not to allow
any supporters of Blaine and Logan
to take partin the Democratic primaries;
and they fought 80 fiercely that Mr..
Ogden was compelled to abandon his
torule out boilers and deser-
tiers. The Reformers indeed, seemed to
resent all efforts to have the committee
frame fair and equitable rales-as they
we'll showed in this instance when
they actually proposed to throw open
the gates of the party to men who pro-
claimed themselves Republicans but
three years ago, and who have no
right to figure in Democratic prima
ries to day.
q Sound Legal Opinion.